Michael Wayne Gremillion

It’s not easy to fit 69 years of a life into a few paragraphs- especially a life like Mike’s. He had many chapters, a lot of stories, and a lot of people who were a part of them.

One of those early chapters was his service in the United States Air Force, where he worked on B-52s and received a Commendation Medal for his service. It seems fitting that airplanes would remain such a big part of his life. Flying became both a career and one of Mike’s greatest passions.

Over the years, Mike flew air charter and fought wildfires from the air, but of all the flying he did, he especially loved being a flight instructor. He genuinely enjoyed teaching and sharing something he loved with someone else. Many students who first climbed into an airplane with Mike became lifelong friends. Those friendships lasted long after the lessons were over and meant more to Mike than the hours in his logbook.

Mike was also a licensed California contractor and spent many years in construction. He thoroughly enjoyed building, figuring out how something could be done, and seeing an idea take shape. He had a way of seeing what something could become before anyone else did, and there was always a certain satisfaction for him in being able to step back and say, “I built that.”

That ability to figure things out followed Mike throughout his life. He liked understanding how things worked and finding a way to make them better—whether he was working on an airplane, teaching someone something new, fixing a problem, or building something from scratch.

And then there was fishing...

Mike loved fishing. On his days off from flying fires, he would find a place to fish. It was a passion he passed on to his son, Derrick, and one of the reasons he loved living in Bayou Vista so much. He could walk into his own backyard, throw out a line, and fish.

But as much as Mike loved flying, fishing, and building things, the people in his life mattered most. He had a natural way of connecting with people, and he loved his family deeply. He was a wonderful and devoted father whose love, guidance, and presence meant more than words can fairly express.

The last ten years of Mike’s life were shared with Michelle, whom he loved deeply. Together they built a life filled with ordinary days, adventures, laughter, and love.

Mike’s life cannot be defined by a single relationship, career, or passion. He lived a life of doing, building, teaching, helping, and loving. Along the way, he left pieces of himself in the people he taught, the things he built, the friendships he made, and the family he loved.

He will be deeply missed and forever remembered by those who were lucky enough to be part of his story.

Mike is survived by his wife, Michelle; his daughter, Nicole Gremillion-Montague (Eric); his son, Derrick Gremillion (Krista); his granddaughters, Destiny Montague and Courtney Carinalli; his grandson, Garrett Montague; his sister, Laura Perry (Curt); his brothers, Brad Gremillion and Don Gremillion; his aunts, Maxine Kramer and Lucille Baranick; his uncle, Edward Smith; and many extended family members and friends. Mike was pre-deceased by his Mother, Irene McCarty; his Father, Donald R. Gremillion; His Uncle, JC Smith.

As we get ready to celebrate Mike, I want everyone to know this will be casual - just like he was. Mike was never a formal kind of guy, he wouldn't want everyone dressed up, sitting quietly and being sad over him.

So please come comfortable and come as you are. This isn't meant to feel like a funeral. It's a time to get together, tell stories, laugh, probably cry a little, and remember Mike the way he really was.

No suits required. No formality expected. Just friends, family, neighbors, good memories and a celebration worthy of him.